Ebbsfleet United 5 Taunton Town 0 match report: Toby Edser scores twice for National League South leaders

Leaders Ebbsfleet made it six home wins out of six as they maintained their impressive start in National League South.

Up against the division’s meanest defence – visitors Taunton had conceded just six goals in their first 11 games – the Fleet had more than enough firepower.

The hosts could have been three goals ahead in the first five minutes as Toby Edser’s shot was deflected wide, Rakish Bingham’s shot was blocked on the line and then Bingham was denied by keeper Jack Bycroft.

Taunton’s best chance came on 10 minutes when Lloyd James did well to set up Joe Budd, who turned and shot well over the bar.

Ebbsfleet took the lead after 17 minutes. Christian N’Guessan drove forward from midfield and set up Dominic Poleon, whose lay-off was stroked into the bottom corner by Greg Cundle at the first time of asking for his fifth goal of the season.

Bingham, who scored in the Fleet’s last league game at Oxford City, continued to be frustrated by a well marshalled Taunton defence, one shot was deflected wide and another – from a lovely training ground-corner routine - was blocked.

Another inventive free-kick saw Omari Sterling-James set up Craig Tanner, whose shot was saved by Bycroft.

The chances continued to come and after Bingham shot over, Sterling-James saw his right-foot shot come back off the inside of the upright.

The Fleet deservedly claimed a second goal on the stroke of half-time when Bingham delivered a perfect cross from the right wing for Poleon to arrive at the back post and tap home his 11th goal of the campaign.

The second half followed a similar pattern and Edser – playing in the same Ebbsfleet starting line-up as Tanner for the first time – worked his way into the penalty area before firing into the bottom